Tuareg online doc on Al Jazeera
 

Just watched the first of a 3 x 45-minute documentary on Al J about the Tuareg following Libya's fall. Very well filmed if a little manipulated; not the sort of thing you're ever likely to see on mainstream TV.

Orphans of the Sahara - Al Jazeera English

Orphans of the Sahara is a three-part documentary series about the Tuareg people of the Sahara desert. It follows Tuaregs who fought for Muammar Gaddafi in Libya as they return home to crushing poverty in Mali and Niger, then as they launch a rebellion for an independent country in the Sahara, and as their dreams are crushed, first by al-Qaeda, then by French military intervention.

Ch

Al J Documentary - Orphans of the Sahara
 

Made for harrowing viewing, make your own mind up about the narration; the voices of the Tuareg communities rang true to me and the pictures told the story. I consider myself privileged to have travelled unhindered in Algeria, Mali and Niger in the 70's and 80's without fear of kidnapping or worse. I still have a dagger given to my by a young Targui I befriended whilst holed up for a week in Douentza waiting for a truck out. He was not so impressed by my gift of a Swiss Army knife....

John H
Adventia before Dementia

Orphans, Part Two
 

Also part 3, Exile is published: Orphans of the Sahara: Exile - Orphans of the Sahara - Al Jazeera English

This documentary tells a lot of one side stories. They depict the Tuaregs as poor victims, but do not give a lot of objective background information. Very poor journalism from al Jazeera. In part one for example they claim Tuareg had to flee from Libya. But big parts of the Fezzan are under Tuareg-control! And according to a UN-funded report published in 2011 the Tuareg in Mali have more money then other ethnic groups. Yes, the Tuareg are poor, but on average less then other Malians. The Sahara is since at least ten years getting smaller instead of bigger.